She had her puppies on Thursday and she has not left the cage since then. Her appetite is good and she is drinking plenty of water.I just can't get her to go outside to go to the bathroom is this normal. The puppies are all healthy that don't cry much . She will barely let me get close enough to put food an water in. The cage kind of smells a little an I would like to change it but she is so protective I am not able to get close enough to take out the dirty and put in clean . What do I do? :confused:

Why did you confine her to the cage in the first place to have her pups. Now you may never get near them, and the cage is the reason probably she won't leaave them. However, let her do things on her own time, she knows better then you what the pups and her need. She is cleaning the pups and herself. Do you leave the door open so she can leave ?

Right now she is in her mommy mode and extremely protective of her puppies. Try and just sitting near her letting her know that you are not a threat to her and her litter. You need to speak softly and don't make any sudden moves. Just keep putting food and water in for her and when she sees that you are just concerned, her attitude should change. Try and pet her once she's calmed down and keep talking to her the whole time. Just be patient. You'll be able to clean her area soon.

Since it's only been 3 days, she just needs some recovery time and the pups are her first concern right now.

Instead of putting the food in her crate, try setting it outside the crate. She should come out when she gets hungry. If you notice that after several hrs that she hasn't come out to eat, then give her a few morsels, and then go about what you are doing, but watch to see if the morsels tempted her to come out of the crate to eat the rest. If not, then give her the food in the crate.

She will start coming out when she is ready, and perhaps then she will let you help her care for the pups. I don't think you will have a problem.

Good Luck! :)

She won't eat, starbuck, until her pups are well taken care of as she sees fit. She is in mommy mode now so the only thing she cares about is making sure pups are nursing properly, helping them eliminate, keeping them clean etc. She will eat when she is ready and then she will be ravenous and willing to keep up her strength to feed her pups. Lots of water should be available.

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Originally Posted by tickle

She wont eat, starbuck, until her pups are well taken care of as she sees fit. She is in mommy mode now so the only thing she cares about is making sure pups are nursing properly, helping them eliminate, keeping them clean etc. She will eat when she is ready and then she will be ravenous and willing to keep up her strength to feed her pups. Lots of water should be available.

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I only said that about the food because in her question she said her appetite is good, so I was assuming that she wants to eat. I realise that she is recovering and being a good momma, I just thought coaxing her out for short periods might give her a bit of a break.

Starbuck 8

She did come out for a little while today.The give her a little food idea worked. I actually tried a piece of bacon and she really liked it. I think she was just concerned for the puppies . We have a nieghbor who's son is just awful to her, She climbs the fence and then throw his toys at her when she is outside so I think that she feels tha our children are going to hurt the puppies . So I have made it where they can't come in the room where the dog is and I think that has helped.

That's great! leary05,

She does need to eat some, in order to keep up her strength, and to nourish her pups. She will be hovering over her little babes for awhile, and maybe she thinks if she leaves to go outside, something bad may happen to them. Just try and reassure her the best you can.

Give those little kids a noogie, and tell them to leave momma dog alone for awhile, so she can feel safe enough to venture outside to do her business!

Glad to hear that momma dog got out of her crate for a stretch at least!

Good luck, and post some pics if you can. :)